Bellows actuated switch



Dec. 3, 1963 R, N, MGCLEERY 3,1;f3,19o

BELLows ACTUATED SWITCH Filed Jan. 30, 1961 ROBERT N. Mc CL .E5/W

EYMAMM T TOR/V576.

Uited States Patent O 3,l13,l90 EELILWS ACTUATED SWITCH Robert N. ll/icCl-eery, Detroit, Mich., assigner to The Belrnan Company, Cookeville, Tenn., a corporation of Tennessee Filed lan. Sil, 196i, Ser. No. $5,591 S Claims. (Cl. 20d-83) This invention relates generally to windshield clearing systems and more particularly to a vacuum actuated control system for operating die clearing system.

An object of this invention is to provide in a windshield clearing system a novel time delay arrangement operable to concurrently actuate the wiper and washer unit simultaneously while de-actuating the wiper unit subsequently to the dex-actuation of the washer unit.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a windshield clearing system utilizing electrically energized washer and wiper uni-ts, a suction opera-ted electric swi ch including electric terminals directly responsive to the position of a eXible bellows for controlling the operation of the washer and wiper units.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a vacuum actuated elec-tric switch the termina-ls of which are movable toward and away from each other depending upon the position of a eXible bellows which is movably reponsive to the application thereto of a subatmospheric pressure.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a vacuum actuated, electric switch incorporating time delay means capable of attaining the above mentioned objectives which is simple, economical and effective.

These objects and other features and advantages of this invention will become readily apparent upon reference to the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. l is a fragmentary side elevational view of a vehicle showing the invention in assembled relation therewith;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged detail side elevational view of the vacuum actuatedy switch of PEG. 1, the switch being in an open position, and with certain parts broken away and shown in section for clarity;

FIG, 3 is a top plan view of the switch of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 'and showing the switch in a closed position;

FlG. 5 is a fragmentary detail view showing a modilied form of terminals for the switch of FIG. 2;

FlG. 6 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 1 and showing a modified version of the invention; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 5 and showing another modified version of the invention, with certain parts shown in section for clarity.

With reference to the drawing and particularly t-o FIGS. l--5, inclusive, a vehicle windshield clearing system is disclosed which includes a washer unit and a wiper unit designated generally in FIG. l at il and l2, respectively. The vehicle is illustrated as having a windshield i3, an engine cowl i4 extended forwardly of the windshield, a lire .wall I7 yand ya dashboard i8.

The washer unit 'll includes a lluid reservoir i9 mounted on the fire wall I7 for supplying iluid through a conduit 2l to an electrically operated fluid pump 223 connected to the vehicle battery 29. The fluid pump 23, upon anais operation, transmits the fluid through another conduit 22 and a one way check valve 25 to one or more nozzles 25. Each nozzle 26 is mounted on the cowl ld at a position forwardly Aof the windshield i3, Iand is adapted to discharge the liuid upwardly onto the windshield 13 and into the path of movement of a windshield wiper blade 27, which forms a part of the wiper unit l2'.

T he wiper unit l2 also includes an electric wiper motor 2S of a conventional type which is mounted on the fire wall l, and which is energized by the battery Z9 to drive the wiper blade 27 in an oscillating manner across the windshield i3 by means of the usual transmission mechanism indicated generally at El (FIG. l). The battery 29 is connected in arl electric circuit which includes a lead 32 t-o an ori-off rotatable hand control switch 33 mounted on the dashboard i8, and another lead 3d connected between the control switch 33 and the wiper motor 2S. For independent operation of the wiper motor 2S and thus the wiper unit l2, a knob 36 on the control switch is merely rotated between on and olf positions.

For initiating operation of the washer unit ll and the wiper unit l2 concurrently, and for providing a delayed tie-actuation of the wiper unit l2 relative to cle-actuation of the washer unit ll, a vacuum actuated control system is provided. The control system comprises a vacuum control device 37 (FIG. l) attached to the switch 33, a first bellows switch unit 38 (FIGS. l and 2) connected in the electric circuit for the wiper motor 28, and `a second bellows switch unit 39 connetced in the electric circuit for the riluid pump 23. The vacuum control device 37 consists of valve structure wherein an enclosed slide valve (not shown) is attached, via a reciprocal rod lil, to the control switch knob 36 for a push-pull movement. The interior of the vacuum control device 37 is in fluid cornmunication through a conduit d2 with a source Vof subatrnospheric pressure, such as the intake manifold of fthe vehicle, and is also in fluid communication with a pair of feed conduits d3 and 44.

The arrangement of the vacuum control device 37 is such, for example, that when the control knob 36 is in the full line position of FlG. l, the slide valve closes olf the supply of subatmospheric pressure from the main conduit 42 to the feed conduits z3 and d4. However, when the control knob 36 is pulled ouwardly from the dashboard 18 to the dotted line position of FIG. '1, the feed conduits $5 zuid 4d are opened to the main conduit d2. Rotation of the control knob 36 does not in any way affect the control of the operation of vacuum control device 37.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 2-4, the first bellows switch unit 33 is illustrated as comprising a U-shaped, flexible spring steel retainer 46 having a pair of parallel arms Ll-' and 4S with right angularly offset terminal ends 49 and 5l, respectively. "The-retainer do is illustrated in FIG. 2 in its normal position with the arms 47 and 4S in parallel relation with the-ir ends 4Q yand 5l spaced apart.

kA pair of electrical leaf or .tab terminals 52 and 53 are secured to the arm ends 49 and 5l by a pair of conductive plugs'Si and 56 each of which is inserted through Aa sleeve S7 connected to an arm endy 49 and 5l. The sleeves 57 act as insulators between the arm ends and the plugs 54 and 56.

ln the embodiment of the iirst bellows switch unit 33 of FIG. 2, a pair of conductive brushes :or plates 58 are o also secured to the plugs Se and 56 and are bent toward each other so that the normal spacing between the adjacent tips 59 and 6l of the brushes is less than the normal spacing between the plug faces 62 and 63, respectiveiy. I t can therefore be seen that the terminals 52 and 53 are electrically connected upon engagement of the brushes 58 with each other, which engagement occurs prior to engagement `of the plug faces 62 and 63. It is to be noted that the brushes 58 are slightly inclined relative to each other so as to provide a positive engagement when the arms 47 and '48 are ilexed toward each other, and also to effect a self-cleaning action during use.

To bring the arm ends 49 and Sil together, so as to cause the brushes 58 and the plug faces 62 and 63 to engage, a iiexible hollow plastic bellows 64 (FIG. 2) of blow molded type is formed with a thin wall 66. At one end the bellows 64- is provided with an elongated knob 67, `and at its opposite end with another elongated knob 68 having a projected fluid tting 69 integral with the wall 66. A central bore 7l. is formed through the tting 69 and the knob 68.

By providing a pair of transversely aligned, elongated slots 73 and 74 (FIGS. 2 and 3) running lengthwise in the retainer arms 47 and 48 and of va length suiiicient to receive the knobs 67 and 68, lit `can readily be seen that the bellows 64 can be connected between the arms 47 and 48 by simply inserting the knobs through their respective slots and turning the bellows 64 ninety degrees.

The second bellows switch unit 39 (FIGS. l and 5) is identical to the iirst unit 3S with the exception that the brushes 58 of the first unit 38 lare eliminated in t-he second unit 89, as best illustrated in FIG. 5. Thus upon the application of a subatmospheric pressure through iiuid fittings 69 to the interior of the bellows 64 of both units 38 and 39, the bellows will contract from their normally expanded positions to a collapsed position, as best indicated in FIG. 4. Then upon a release or withdrawal of the subatmospheric pressure, the bellows 6d will both return to their expanded positions (FIGS. 1 and 2). As the spacing between the plug -faces 62 and 63 (FIG. 5) of the second switch unit 39 is greater than the spacing between the brush tips 59 and 61 of the irst un-it 38, it can readily be seen that the kcircuit of the first switch unit 38 remains closed longer than the circuit in which the second switch unit 39 is connected.

In the assembly of the vacuum `actuated control system, the iirst bellows switch unit 33 (FIG. 1) is fluid connected by the conduit `43 between its fitting 69' (FIG. 2) and the vacuum control device 37. The lower leg 48 of the spring retainer 46 is stationarily mounted on a bracket 76 which is secured, for example, to an inside wall of the vehicle engine compartment. One terminal 52 is electrically connected by a lead 77 to the wiper motor 28, `and the other terminal 53 is connected by a lead 78 to the battery 29. The second bellows switch unit 39 (FIG. l) is iluid connected by the conduit 44 from its nozzle 69 to the vacuum control device 37, and is mounted at its lower leg 48 to a stationary bracket 79. The upper terminal 52 of the unit 39 is connected by a Ilead 81 to the fluid pump 23 and the lower terminal S3 is connected via leads 82 and 78 to the battery 29.

In the operation of the clearing system of FIGS. 1-5, as mentioned hereinbefore, independent operation of the wiper unit '12 is accomplished by rotating the control knob 36 between ion-ofi positions where the electric circuit for the wiper motor 28 is either closed to operate the motor, or `is open. For coordinated operation of both the wiper and washer units 12 and I1, respectively, the control knob 36 is pulled from the full line position of FIG. 1 to the dotted line position. This movement of the knob 36 is transmitted through the rod il to the vacuum conrol device 37 to permit the subatmospheric pressure in the main conduit 42 to be applied through the feed conduits 43 and 44 to the interiors of the bellows 64 of the iirst and second bellows switch units 38 and 39, respectively.

By virtue of atmospheric pressure acting on the outside of both bellows 64, they collapse (FIG. 4) and in so doing pull down the free leg 47 of each spring retainer 46 toward the stationary leg 48 until the plug faces 62 and 63 contact each other to stop further movement of the leg 47. It can readily be seen that as the brushes S8 (FIG. Z) in the first unit 38 engage, the electric circuit to the wiper motor 28 is closed and the motor 28 operates `to oscillate the wiper blade 27. Also, when the plug faces 62 `and 63 of the second unit 39 contact, the electric circuit to the fluid pump 23 is closed and the pump 23 operates to discharge uid through the nozzle 26 against the windshield i13.

A-fter both washer and wiper units 11 and l2 are operating, `to de-actuate or shut ofi both uni-is the operator releases the control knob 36 so that it moves back to its full line position of FIG. l, the knob 36 being ordinarily spring biased toward that position. This movement closes ofi the iiuid conduits 43 and vKiri from the main conduit 42 and opens themwithin the vacuum control 37-to atmosphere. As the interiors of the bellows 64 are therefore opened to atmospheric pressure, they each return from their collapsed position (FIG. 4) to their original expanded position ('FIG. 2). In so doing, as the spacing between `the end tips 59 and 61 of the rst bellows unit 38 (FIG. 2) is less than that between the plug faces 62 and 63 of the second bellows unit 39 (FIG. 5), the circuit of the wiper motor 28 is opened after the circ-uit of the fluid pump 2.3 is opened. This provides for a timed delay in the de-actuation of the wiper unit l12 relative to the de-actuation of the washer unit 11. The length of the delay can be varied by changing the spacing relationship between the brushes 58 and the plug faces 62 and 63.

It is to be noted that the necessity for manual-ly holding the control knob 36 in the dotted line position of FIG. l until desirable to de-actuate the washer and wiper units 1l and 12 can be modified so that to actuate the units, the knob 36 need only be pulled out momentarily. This can readily be accomplished by incorporating a =vacuum bleed valve unit (not shown) in luid communication with both feed conduits 43 and 44. The vacuum bleed valve unit would open the feed conduits 43 and 44 to the main conduit 42 upon outward movement of the control knob 36, and then upon release of the knob 36 would automatically delay atmospheric pressure returning to the pair of bellows 64 `for a predetermined period of time.

Referring to FIG. 6 where a modified fversion or the vacuum actuated control system is shown, like parts being indicated by like numerals, t-he arrangement is substantially identical with that of FIG. 1 with the main exception that only one bellows switch unit 38 is used. In assembly, the unit 38 of FIG. 6 is fluid connected by a conduit 43 to a vacuum control `device 37, and is electrically connected at one terminal 53 by an electric lead 73 to the battery. The other terminal 52 has a pair of leads 77 and 83 to the wiper motor 28 and to the iluid pump .26, respectively.

In operation, independent control of the wiper motor of FIG. 6 is accomplished in the same Way as described or the system of FIG. 1. Coordinated control of the washer and wiper units 11 and 12 of FIG. 6 is initiated by pulling out the control knob 36, whereupon a subatmospheric pressure is Itransmitted through the vacuum control device 37 and the conduit `i3 to the single bellows 64 of the unit 38. Upon the collapse of the bellows 64, the brushes 58 of the unit 38 engage and battery current is directed to the wiper motor 28 and the iuid pump 23. Thus, concurrent discharge of fluid upon the windshield I3 and oscillation of the wiper blade 27 is obtained. When the operator releases the control knob 36, the bellows 64 of the bellows unit -38 expands and both the 'wiper motor 28 and the uid pump 23 cease to operate as the electric circuit is open.

Another modified version of the vacuum actuated control system is shown in FIG. 7, like par-ts being indicated by like numerals. The arrangement is similar to that of FI G. 6, with exceptions noted hereinafter, whereby a timed delay of the de-actuation of the wiper unit 12 relative to the de-actuation of the washer unit 11 is obtained.

Referring to FIG. 7, a single bellows switch unit 38 is provided, wherein the terminal end 49 of the retainer arm `47 has an insulating sleeve 86- secured thereto. A tab terminal 52 and a brush lS8 are mounted in contacting relation over the upper end 87 of the sleeve 86, and a conductor plug lS-S is inserted through the center of the sleeve 86. The sleeve S6 is insulated from the terminal end 49 by an insulated washer 91, and another insulated washer 92 is placed between the tab terminal 52 and another tab terminal $9 mounted below the top 9b of the plug 8-3.

By this arrangement the terminal S2 and the brush 5,3 are in electrical contact, but are insulated from the plu-g 8S and tenminal 89 also electrically contacting. Thus, current in the battery line 7S transmitted to the lower terminal 53 willV take one path via the plug ifaces 62 and 63, the terminal 89 and a line 93 to the lluid pump 2.3-, upon engagement of the plug faces 62 and 63. However, when the brushes `58 engage, the current is also transmitted from the battery line 78 via another path through the brushes `58, the terminal 52, and the line 77 to the wiper motor 28.

`ln operation of the modified system of FIG. 7, coordinated control of the washer and 'Wiper units 11 and l?, is again initiated by pulling out the control vknob 36, whereupon subatmospheric pressure is transmitted to the single bellows 6i/i (see FIG. 6) which lche unit 38 embodies. Upon a collapse of the bellows 64 the brushes S engage as do the plug `faces 62 and 63. The wiper motor Z8 (FlG. 7) is energized by battery current transmitted through the brushes 58, the terminal 52 and the line 77, while the iluid pump 23 is energized by battery current through the plugs S6 and $8, the 4terminal 9 and the line 93.

When the bellows `64 expands, due to the release of the control -knob 36 which closes the vacuum control device -to the suction pressure of the main conduit 42 and opens the single bellows line 43 to atmospheric pressure, a delayed cle-actuation of the wiper motor 23 is obtained. This is provided by the plug faces 62 and `6?,l (FIG. 7) separating prior to the separation of the brushes 58, as the gap between the faces is smaller than that between the brushes. Thus, upon expansion of the bellows 64, current to the iluid pump 23 is cut olf by the separation of the rfaces 62 and 63, and subsequent in time, current to the wiper motor 2:8 is cut off by the disengagement of the brushes 58. The result is a delayed de-actuation of the wiper motor '28 relative to the de-actuation of the pump 2.3, whereby the wiper blade 2.7 (FIG. l) continues to be oscillated across the windshield 113 a predetermined period of time after illuid ejected from the nozzle 26 has stopped.

ln summation, a control system for a windshield clearing system; is disclosed, where the basis ffor the control is a vacuum actuated device comprising -a collapsible bellows and an electric switch operatively connected to and providing a mounting for the bellows, and with the switch being directly responsive to the expansion and contraction of the bellows for opening and closing an electric circuit.

Although one embodiment and a modification thereof have been disclosed herein, various alterations and other modifications can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A vacuum actuated electric switch comprising a member of yieldable material having a reversely bent shape so as to form a base arm adaptedfor stationary mounting and a lever arm yieldably movable toward said base arm, said lever arm movable automatically away tfrom said base arm subsequent to movement toward said base arm, a pair of electric terminals secured one on each arm in normally spaced relation and engageable with each other on movement of said arms together', and a ilexible bellows interconnectedr to and extended between said arms, .said bellows responsive to the application thereto of a fluid pressure and movable from a normally expanded position to a collapsed position, said arms pulled together until said terminals` 'Contact upon movement of said bellows to said collapsed position, said bellows returnable to said norm-ally expanded position whereby said terminals are separated upon the withdrawal of the pressure applied thereto.

2. A vacuum actuated elec-tric switch comprising a flexible member having a pair of spaced arm-s movable relative .to each other, a pair of electric terminals secured one on each arm in normally spaced relation and engageable with each other on movement of said arms together, a pair of leaf terminals secured one on each arm land engageable with each other on movement of said arms together, the spacing ibetween said leaf terminals being less than the spacing between said electric terminal whereby upon movement of said arms together said leaf terminals contact each other prior to contact by said electric terminals and disengage after disengagement of said electric terminals, and a flexible bellows interconnected to and extended between said spaced arms in a normally expanded position, said lbellows responsive to the application thereto of a fluid pressure and returnably movable from said normally expanded position to a contracted position wherein said electric terminals are in engage ment.

3. A vacuum actuated electric switch comprising a exible member having a pair of spaced arms movable relative to cach other, said arms having -a pair ot transverscly aligned, elongated slots for-med therein and having further a pair of electric terminals on the ends thereof, said terminals nonrnially spaced apart and being engageable upon movement of said arms, anda hollow ilexible bellows having a pair of elongated knobs at opposite ends of said bellows, a fitting fformed on one of said knobs and said fitting and knob formation having a bore formed therein leading lto the interior of said bellows, earch of said knobs insertable through a respective slot whereby upon rotation of said bellows a predetermined arno-unt said bellows is interconnected to and extended between said arms in a nonmally expanded position, said bellows responsive to the application therein of a subatmospheric pressure applied through said bore and mov-able from said normally expanded position to a contracted position wherein said `arms are pulled toward each other and said terminals are brought into engagement.

4. A vacuiun actuated electric switch comprising a flexible member having a pair of spaced `arms movable relative to each other, a pair of electric terminals secured `one on each anni and having `faces normally spaced apart a iirst distance, said terminal 'faces engagea-ble with each other on movement `off said arms toward each other, a pair of electric leaf terminals secured one on each arm and having end portions normally spaced apart a second distance -dieren-t from said first distance, one of said leaf terminals in electric contact with one of said terminals, the other of said leaf terminals insulated from the other of said terminals, and a ilexi-ble bellows interconnected to and extended between said arms, said bellows responsive to the application thereto of a fluid pressure and movable from =a normally expanded position to a collapsed position wherein said terminals engage and said leaf terminals engage.

5. A fluid pressure actuated elect-ric switch comprising a member of yieldable material having a reversely bent shape so as to form -a base arm adapted for stationary mounting and a lever arm yieldably movable toward said base arm, said lever arm movable automatically away 'i 8 [from said ibase armi subsequent to movement toward said turnalole by the lever arm 'of said member to the other base arm, a pair of electric terminals secured one on each position therefor whereby said terminals are separated arm in normally spaced relation and engagea-ble with upon the withdrawal ofthe pressure applied thereto. each other on movement of said arms together, Iand bellows means interconnected to said arms, said bellows 5 References Cited in the le of this patent means responsive to Athe `application thereto of a fluid UNITED STATES PATENTS pressure and movable between expanded `and collapsed positions therefor, said arms pulled together until said 287748 35h61 Mar'-17 1959 terminals Contact upon movement of said bellows means 292637 elbel et a Mal' 1 1960 

1. A VACUUM ACTUATED ELECTRIC SWITCH COMPRISING A MEMBER OF YIELDABLE MATERIAL HAVING A REVERSELY BENT SHAPE SO AS TO FORM A BASE ARM ADAPTED FOR STATIONARY MOUNTING AND A LEVER ARM YIELDABLY MOVABLE TOWARD SAID BASE ARM, SAID LEVER ARM MOVABLE AUTOMATICALLY AWAY FROM SAID BASE ARM SUBSEQUENT TO MOVEMENT TOWARD SAID BASE ARM, A PAIR OF ELECTRIC TERMINALS SECURED ONE ON EACH ARM IN NORMALLY SPACED RELATION AND ENGAGEABLE WITH EACH OTHER ON MOVEMENT OF SAID ARMS TOGETHER, AND A FLEXIBLE BELLOWS INTERCONNECTED TO AND EXTENDED BETWEEN SAID ARMS, SAID BELLOWS RESPONSIVE TO THE APPLICATION THERETO OF A FLUID PRESSURE AND MOVABLE FROM A NORMALLY EXPANDED POSITION TO A COLLAPSED POSITION, SAID ARMS PULLED TOGETHER UNTIL SAID TERMINALS CONTACT UPON MOVEMENT OF SAID BELLOWS TO SAID COLLAPSED POSITION, SAID BELLOWS RETURNABLE TO SAID NORMALLY EXPANDED POSITION WHEREBY SAID TERMINALS ARE SEPARATED UPON THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE PRESSURE APPLIED THERETO. 